James m



UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

JAMES M. BASINGER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO VILLIAM L. "WHITE, OF SAME PLACE.

WHIFFLETREE -l-IOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,051, dated August 9, 1887.

Application filed December 27, 1886. Serial No. 222,505. (No model.) 7

This invention relates to an improvementin the fastening devices which are attached to the ends of a whiffietree forsecuring the traces and preventing the latter from becoming disengaged from the whiftletree, and it has particular reference to a fastening consisting of a plate or guard which is pivoted to the end" of the whiffletree, so that it can be closed against the outer side of the trace, thereby holding the latter on the hook of the whiflietree.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of the pivoted guard or plate in such manner that it will support the trace preparatory to applying the latter to the hook and when applied to the hook, and so that it will prevent the tail of the horse from being caught in the hook or guard.

The invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one end of a whiffletree provided with my improvement, showing the trace in crosssection. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through "one end of the whiflletree, showing the trace attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in line mar, Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the whiflletrees, showing the end of the trace detached from the whiffletree and the guard swung back.

Likeletters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents one end of an ordinary whiffietree for a light vehicle; and B the trace, which is provided near its end with an elongated eye, I), which engages over the hook a, formed on-or secured to the end of the whiffletree A. I

D represents the guard pivoted to the end of the whiffletree by a vertical bolt, (Z, and con sisting of a plate or shield, e, which rests against the outer side of the trace, and two inwardlyex'tending arms, e e, which are bent around the upper and lower edges of the trace and are pivoted at their inner ends to the whiffletree by the vertical rivet or bolt d. The plate or shield e is made concave on its inner or rear side both longitudinally and vertically to correspond with the convex outer side of the whiffletree-hook and permit the front and rear edges of the plate to rest against the outer side of the trace in front and in rear of the whiflletree-hook, as represented in Fig. 3. This longitudinal curvature of the plate is described from the pivot d as a center, whereby the plate e is caused to lie closely against the outer side of the hook when the trace issecured to the latter. The outer side of the plate or shield e is preferably made convex or rounded off and may be provided with a suitable ornament.

To couple the trace to the whiflletree, the guard D is swung backward] y, so as to stand opposite the rear side of the whiflletree, as shown in Fig. 4. The end of the traceis then inserted between the plate and the whiffletree, in which position the trace is supported by the lower arm, 6, of the guard. The trace is next drawn forwardly over the end of the whiffletree-hook, which movement causes the guard D to turn upon its pivots and move with the trace. The plate 0, bearing against the outer side of the trace, causes the latter to hug the end of the whiflietree-hook until the eye b of the trace has engaged over the whifile tree-hook. The trace is how held in place on the hook by the plate 0 and the arms e e. The plate 6 conceals the end of the whiflletree and the eye of the trace, and the arms 0 e, extending around the upper and lower edges of the trace, prevent the tail of the horse from catching in the hook or under the plate 0. When it is desired to uncouple the trace, the latter is moved backwardly with the guard D until the latter again assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, when the eye of the trace is disengaged from the hook.

The plate 6 of the guard bears against the outer side of thetrace both in front and in rear of the whiffletree-hook,whereby the trace is securely held. on the hook, and the guard itself is held securely in its locking position by the trace.

My improved fastening device is neat, at

tractive, and durable, and can be constructed at comparatively small expense.

I claim as my invention- The combination, with the whil'lletree and 5 its hook, ofaguard, D, composed of aplate, 0, and arms 0, pivoted to the whiilletree, the plate 0 being constructed to bear against the trace in front and in rear of the whillletreehook, whereby the trace is securely held on the hook by the guard and the latter is held IO securely in its locking position, substantially as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 22d (lay of December, 1886.

JAMES M. BASINGER. \Vi tn esses:

Jam F. (ll-KER, J NO. J. BONNER. 

